Last time I discussed perfectionism as a concept and as a pathological state. I may have come across as a critic of perfectionism due to the focus on the negative effects. I guess this stems from the fact that I really do not like perfectionism since I am one (not referring to the philosophy!) and have to battle with the negative effects I do see the value in striving for the best possible in everything. What I am saying is that as long you believe in perfectionism but donâ€™t end up a pathological perfectionist then it is quite possible to be pretty happy with lifeâ€¦as long as you donâ€™t force your idea of whatâ€™s best down everybodyâ€™s throat or have someone force you into striving for their own idea of best.

As for the pathological perfectionist though the negative effects may be many (i.e. negativity, anxiety, obsessive behavior, low productivity, etc.) note that these negative effects can be fought with a healthy dose of realism, courage, and lots of encouragement. Note too that being a perfectionist can result in a lot of positive things as Rodell said, “in a positive form, perfectionism can provide the driving energy which leads to great achievement.â€ So as long as things are put into proper perspective and you donâ€™ let it bog you down you can harness the drive for excellence to achieve much success in your endeavours. But if it gets out of hand, do seek help.

Lately I have been finding some free time on my hands. This generally means one thing for me â€“ I have time to read. I used to take my reading time for granted but not anymore. It is rare that I actually can sit back and relax with nothing but a good book. And speaking of good books, have you heard of The Book of Dead Philosophers?

At first glance, it may not sound like an exciting read but hey, look at that title again and you will certainly feel something like a thrill. The Book of Dead Philosophers. How much more interesting can that be?

I have not had the chance to get my hands on this book but trust me, Amazon is my next stop after this post. After reading Laura Millerâ€™s take on the book there is no other option. She shares some of the ideas to be found in the book:

According to Critchley, only the right kind of philosophy can teach “a readiness for death without which any conception of contentment, let alone happiness, is illusory.”

The universal truth of that assertion strikes me as debatable, as does much else in “The Book of Dead Philosophers,” but the link between philosophy and mortality is by necessity an intimate one. In philosophy, the human mind studies itself, and the same faculty that makes this study possible — our self-consciousness — also makes us aware of the inevitability of our own deaths in a way no other living creatures are. Philosophers, therefore, ought to be experts on the problem of how to die well. Since dying only happens once, and (if we’re lucky) it doesn’t take long, acquiring the skill of dying well might seem like a low priorityâ€¦

While some people might fear death, we just might find something that will help overcome this fear in the book. Interesting reading, to say the least.

There are also books for geeks, movie lovers, Harley enthusiasts and more. If you donâ€™t find your topic of particular interest whatâ€™s great is that you can submit the topic to Open Court Publishing and theyâ€™ll consider whether it is worth doing a philosophy volume on. They prefer very specific topics so make sure you think up something really interesting and specific. So far theyâ€™re at the 38th volume and have 14 more topics in line. Do check out their site Iâ€™m sure youâ€™ll find something of interest.

Looking for just one book about Western Philosophy? If you are, I recommend that you check out Steven Cahnâ€™s â€œClassics of Western Philosophyâ€. Whether you go to the library to borrow an old copy or get your hand on the latest (7th) edition you can will be hard-pressed to find an anthology that is more readable as well as affordable. In fact this book is becoming the text to use so much so that as Dr Vern Lindquist, an active reviewer/commenter in Amazon, said, “Classics” is itself becoming a classic.

Of course this not a book to read in one sitting with such a very broad range of philosophers and their representative ideas. The latest edition â€œpresents complete texts or substantial selections from fifty-six philosophical masterpieces, in pre-eminent and thoughtfully annotated translations and editions.â€ According to the Amazon description the additions to the 7th edition include â€œselections from Plotinus’ “Enneads”, Schopenhauer’s “The World as Will and Representation”, Husserl’s “Paris Lectures”, Wittgenstein’s “Philosophical Investigations”, and a new selection from Hegel’s “Phenomenology of Spirit”. Selections from Aristotle’s “Metaphysics” and “On the Soul” have been expanded, while Aristotle’s “Physics and Nicomachean Ethics”, Hume’s “Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding”, Mill’s “On Liberty”, and Russell’s “The Problem of Philosophy” have been further abridged.â€

This is one book thatâ€™s a must for any philosophy student or anyone whoâ€™s interested in simply learning some of the most interesting and compelling ideas of the best western philosophers.